Chapter 49

"You..."

Gu Jinshui stared at Shanhu, speechless for a long moment. "You're making that up, right?"

Shanhu shook his head. He looked down and kicked a pebble on the ground. "Brother, I want what you have—a home. I don't want to come back every day and face four empty walls alone."

Gu Jinshui opened his mouth, then closed it.

Shanhu rarely complained to him. This brother of his had always been honest and dependable. He never questioned what Gu Jinshui told him to do or quibbled over his pay. Even when Douzi teased him, he just laughed along.

Only now did Gu Jinshui realize how much pain Shanhu carried inside.

Gu Jinshui fell silent.

He finally understood why He Chunlian and the others had told him to stay out of it.

When all was said and done, Shanhu had chosen this marriage for himself. No one else had the right to interfere.

Ring, ring.

Someone hurried past on a bicycle. As the rider passed them, he gave them a puzzled look and muttered, "What's wrong with you two, standing at the crossroads in this north wind instead of going home?"

"None of your damn business!" Gu Jinshui snapped.

Startled, the man quickly pedaled away.

Gu Jinshui turned back to Shanhu. "All right, I get it. Next month, right? I'll give you a big red envelope."

"Thanks, Brother." Shanhu gave him a simple, honest smile and didn't refuse.

Brothers who had risked their lives together had no need for polite formalities.

When Gu Jinshui returned, Liang Ying noticed he seemed more at ease and didn't ask questions. She had to get up early for work the next day, so she went to bed early.

Word of the wager between the First Workshop and the Third Workshop had spread everywhere.

People in the other workshops were almost certain the First Workshop would win.

As Liang Ying passed the restroom, Bai Xiaoyan rushed out and grabbed her. Liang Ying jumped, then took a closer look and recognized her.

"Oh, it's you. Did you need something?"

Liang Ying's cold manner stung Bai Xiaoyan.

But she also felt wronged. She had made a mistake back then, but she had accepted her punishment. Why wouldn't Liang Ying forgive her even now?

"Liang Ying, I wanted to tell you that you shouldn't have made that bet with Lin Lianhua. You probably don't know, but when you were falsely accused of stealing the TV coupon..."

"Lin Lianhua was involved too."

Liang Ying cut her off. "I know."

Bai Xiaoyan's mouth fell open. "H-how did you know?"

She had never told anyone, and Lin Lianhua certainly wouldn't have gone around exposing her own involvement.

"You and Lin Lianhua were always whispering together. Even a blind person could have guessed."

Liang Ying's tone was flat.

Bai Xiaoyan looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Well, she was the one who talked me into it. Liang Ying, you have no idea how cunning Lin Lianhua is. I'm sure she's trying to hurt you again this time."

"Whether she is or not has nothing to do with you."

Liang Ying pulled free of Bai Xiaoyan's hand. "We stopped being friends a long time ago. You don't need to concern yourself with my affairs."

With that, she walked away. There was still a pile of work waiting in the workshop.

Liang Ying had no interest in wasting time on Bai Xiaoyan. Besides, Bai Xiaoyan never came looking for someone without a reason. She must want a favor.

Sure enough.

After work, Bai Xiaoyan had barely arrived home when her mother-in-law came over and asked, "Well? Did you borrow the money?"

Bai Xiaoyan lowered her head. "She wouldn't talk to me."

"So pester her until she does! You're useless, you know that?" her mother-in-law scolded. "If I'd known my son would marry someone like you, I'd never have let you through the door. You're nothing but bad luck. You can't even borrow two or three hundred yuan. Now get in there and make dinner!"

Biting her lip, Bai Xiaoyan went into the kitchen, her face burning with humiliation.

A while ago, her husband had started riding a pedicab to earn some money. Instead, he had hit someone. After being taken to the hospital, the injured person insisted on three hundred yuan in compensation. Where was her husband's family supposed to find that kind of money?

If they had money, why would he be pedaling a pedicab?

Her parents and in-laws were both dirt poor. No matter how she counted it, Liang Ying had the most money. Just looking at what Liang Ying wore and ate every day told her that Liang Ying's in-laws weren't short of cash.

Bai Xiaoyan knew Liang Ying had a soft heart. She had thought a few kind words would be enough to borrow the money. What she hadn't expected was that Liang Ying, softhearted as she was, could also be ruthless. Once she cut ties with someone, she wouldn't spare them another glance.

The women of the First Workshop worked themselves to the bone for this contest.

From morning till night, they never stopped to rest or slack off. Some had once brought chores from home to do at work, but now that everyone was working so hard, they were too embarrassed to keep doing it.

"Everyone, take a handful."

Liang Ying had brought a bag of candy to the workshop.

Chen Xiuhong took a look and asked in surprise, "Where did the candy come from? Did you buy it yourself, team leader?"

"Of course not. My husband's friend is getting married. It's wedding candy. Have something sweet and take a little break."

Liang Ying was never stingy with small treats. When someone hesitated, she took a handful and tucked it into the woman's pocket. "It's wedding candy. Don't be shy."

"This White Rabbit candy's pretty expensive, isn't it? Why not save it for your children?"

The woman felt awkward taking it, but she would have hated to refuse.

Her family was of modest means, and her young grandchildren had never even tasted White Rabbit candy.

"Oh, our children haven't even got all their teeth yet, and the rest of us don't care for sweets. Share it among yourselves. Better than letting it go bad and wasting it."

Only then did everyone accept the candy with an easy conscience.

Liang Ying didn't single Zhang Xing'er out. She gave her a handful too. Zhang Xing'er paused, then mumbled her thanks.

The Fifty-Sixth Day of Being Overheard

A month could feel both long and short.

Over that month, the weather in Beijing grew warmer. People shed their padded coats for lighter jackets, while some hot-blooded young men boldly pulled on jeans from Hong Kong.

Those eye-catching, close-fitting jeans were enough to make a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old the center of attention on any street.

The newspapers criticized the trend again and again.

But to those young people, clothes from Hong Kong were the height of fashion. The criticism only sent jeans sales soaring across Beijing. At street stalls and in the Black Market, jeans became the hottest commodity around.

The jeans craze had nothing to do with Liang Ying and the others.

Though they worked in the Textile Factory, it didn't produce denim. For the past month, they had left early and come home late, racing even through meals, all to win the wager.

Today was the last day. The results would be announced tomorrow. Everyone in the workshop watched the spindles without so much as blinking.

"Team leader, I found out."

Chen Xiuhong had only just returned from outside and hurried straight to Liang Ying's side.

Liang Ying quickly asked, "Well? How many bolts of cloth did the First Workshop make this month?"

"I heard it was a little over four thousand two hundred," Chen Xiuhong whispered.

She and Sister Zhao from the Third Workshop were neighbors. Sister Zhao had a loose tongue, so getting a little information out of her wasn't hard.

"A little over four thousand two hundred?"

Liang Ying frowned slightly.

That was less than the workshop had produced when she was there. It couldn't be just because of the personnel change.

"That's about the same as us."

A woman nearby said, "Team leader, we might actually win."

"I wouldn't count on it. That figure might not be right. Can you really trust what Sister Zhao says?"

Zhang Xing'er had come over at some point. She curled her lip. "Think about it. They made over four thousand bolts last month, and this month has a few more days. Why would they make less?"

"Why are you talking up their workshop?"

Chen Xiuhong immediately bristled and glared at Zhang Xing'er.

Zhang Xing'er put her hands on her hips. "Because it's the truth. You may not like hearing it, but it's still true. Chen Xiuhong, I think she's playing you for a fool."

"All right, stop arguing, both of you."

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Liang Ying hurried to intervene. The evening shift was about to take over. Whether the other workshop's figure was right or not, there might not be time to catch up.

"Whatever they're doing, let's give it one last push today."

At Liang Ying's words, Chen Xiuhong and Zhang Xing'er glared at each other but said no more. They turned back to their machines.

At the shift change, Liang Ying tallied their output.

They had made just over four thousand two hundred bolts this month.

It wasn't a small number, but their chances of winning weren't good.

"All right, the next shift's here. Go home and get some proper rest tonight."

Liang Ying looked around at everyone. Though no one said it, she knew they had probably reached the same conclusion. Their faces were full of disappointment.

Lin Lianhua and the others passed by after work. Lin Lianhua even came over and knocked on the door with a smile.

"Liang Ying, we'll be waiting for those ice pops tomorrow. Don't forget to bring your money."

Sister Zhao and the others burst out laughing.

Chen Xiuhong and the others were furious.

Liang Ying showed nothing on her face. "Sure. Just don't celebrate too soon. You'd better remember to bring your money too. Though if you forget it tomorrow, I can always lend you some."

"You're hilarious, Liang Ying." Lin Lianhua walked away grinning.

Chen Xiuhong fumed. "Who does she think she is? She talks like they've already won."

Liang Ying said nothing, but her eyes flickered.

There were fewer people on the factory's night shift this year. Cloth ration coupons were no longer needed, so fabric was less scarce, and the factory naturally had smaller production quotas.

Late that night.

Gu Jinshui was taking Liang Ying back to the factory. As he pedaled, he grumbled, "Honey, that ten yuan of yours is damn hard to earn. You even have to go back to the factory in the middle of the night to work overtime."

"Quit complaining!" Liang Ying slapped his shoulder. "This isn't about the money. It's about our pride."

The couple were still bickering when a bicycle bell rang up ahead. Liang Ying looked toward the sound and made out the rider by the flashlight mounted on their handlebars. "Zhang Xing'er."

"W-what are you doing here?"

Embarrassment flashed across Zhang Xing'er's face. She coughed. "Well, Chen Xiuhong insisted on dragging everyone in to work overtime. I didn't have much choice."

Gu Jinshui asked quietly, "You know her?"

Liang Ying patted his shoulder and hopped off the bicycle. "She's my coworker. All right, I'll ride with her. You go home."

"All right, then."

Gu Jinshui nodded and watched Liang Ying ride off toward the Textile Factory on Zhang Xing'er's bicycle.

He rubbed his chin, thoroughly amused.

Wasn't Zhang Xing'er the troublemaker his wife had told him about?

When had they gotten so friendly?

Gu Jinshui wasn't the only one puzzled. Chen Xiuhong and the others froze when they saw Zhang Xing'er come in with Liang Ying.

"Everyone's here, I see."

Smiling, Liang Ying took off her gloves and hat at the door. "Let's not stand around. We can get started before the night-shift workers arrive."

"Right, right." Chen Xiuhong and the others finally snapped out of it.

Lin Lianhua went to work in high spirits.

She even promised Song Chaohua, "Once your mother beats that little capitalist miss next door today, I'll buy you a sesame flatbread tonight."

"Mm," Song Chaohua said, not particularly interested.

Lin Lianhua hummed a tune as she entered the workshop. She joked with the others for a while, wondering what kind of ice pop she should have later.

After a while, Deng Mei came over and called Lin Lianhua and Liang Ying outside.

"How many bolts of cloth did each of your workshops produce this month?"

Lin Lianhua shot Liang Ying a smug look. "Supervisor, we produced four thousand three hundred and fifty-three bolts."

Just as expected.

The figure Sister Zhao had given them was false.

In the Third Workshop, Chen Xiuhong clenched her fists in anger. "Sister Zhao even lied to me."

Zhang Xing'er snorted. "I told you she was pulling your leg, but you wouldn't believe me. Good thing we were smart enough to come in and work overtime in the middle of the night."

"That's quite a lot. What about your workshop, Liang Ying?"

Sister Deng turned to Liang Ying.

Liang Ying smiled. "We made about the same as the First Workshop. Just fifteen bolts more, as it happens."

Lin Lianhua's eyes widened. "Nonsense! How is that possible? You only had a little over four thousand two hundred yesterday evening, and there were hardly any people on the night shift. How could you make over a hundred more bolts in one night?"

"Because we came back and worked overtime last night."

Liang Ying spoke as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.